techn. [Of uncertain and possibly diverse origin; in sense 1 perh. related to TIT sb.1 or 2; in sense 2 perh. = TEAT.]
1. Nail-making. A loose piece of steel used to jerk the finished nail out of the bore.
1902. Baring-Gould, Nebo the Nailer, ii. Working in the bore is the ‘tit’ that … ejects the finished nail.
1912. Lett. to Editor. The ‘tit’ is a small loose plain piece of steel which is placed in the ‘bore’ for the purpose of ejecting the nail from the bore after the nail is headed.
2. A small core of metal accidentally left by the shifting of the drill point in boring a hole.
1884. F. J. Britten, Watch & Clockm., 129. If the centre is missed a tit is formed which gives trouble.
